GOING STRONG: ASU senior center Eric Boateng gets ready to put up a shot in the Sun Devils’ 73-69 win over UA on Sunday in Tucson. The Sun Devils will travel to Stanford and Cal this week. (Photo by Kyle Thompson)

Beating UA did more for the ASU men’s basketball team than keep the dream of a Pac-10 championship alive.

It also put the team squarely on the bubble for an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.

GOING OFF: ASU junior guard Ty Abbott attempts a jumper in the lane during ASU's 73-79 victory over the Wildcats in Tucson on Sunday. Abbott scored 28 points in the win, which was ASU's third straight win at McKale Center. (Photo by Kyle Thompson)

TUCSON — On Sunday afternoon in Tucson, there was nothing that UA could do to stop Ty Abbott.